Grandma

My father says his mother was a wise calm person. She educated her daughters at a time when women were looked down upon for going to school, and learning as much (or less) than men.

Older family members say my cousin Amina and I look like my paternal grandmother. People say I am a mix of my grandmother and my mother. I wonder what she looked like. 

I wonder if she was around what advice she would give me. She lived her life taking care of seven children, and dying shortly after giving birth to number eight. 

If I got anything from her it was her ability to understand different people, and her calmness in chaotic situations. She was a gentle easy-going person. I think I'm more sensitive and temperamental (probably from another family member).

I wish I could find my inner calm more often. I wish I was more like my grandmother in that way.

Where you are, why you're there

Destiny is inevitable.

You will be where you're meant to be, when you get there.

If you try to catch a cup as it is falling and it still drops, it was destiny. (lol)

I often reflect on how I live in terms of far removed of the way I used to. I realized a few things:

• I have become a better person - I can read people's emotions better.
• I understand the concept of hospitality.
• I learned to be more patient.
• Maybe God is keeping me away from worse things.
• Maybe He's saying it's time to grow up already!
• People deal with worse things.
• At least there is peace.
• Everything in life is a stepping stone for something else.
• Trials and tribulations are a way to self-purify.
• Many of the things I want to do or think I may are worldly desires. Having fun all the time doesn't serve me right.
• Things that are for my own good can be done even without always having my way.
• If my husband was into doing half the things I'd rather do than stay home, my house would be a mess, we would be stressed, my in-laws would respect me less.
• I've seen the easier steadier type of culture practiced.
• There aren't as many dawaths as there were when I first moved.
• There are some cultural things that cannot and will not be enforced on me - don't drive, don't get out of the house, don't go to Islamic programs, don't talk to other men (when necessary), have your husband do everything for you non-house related but do everything for him.
• Staying in my room will eventually lead me to clean it.

Ahh and I'm done for now!

Five Muslim Magazines to Know

Candor Magazine and blogs
candorstyles.com
A Canadian magazine for Muslim life.

Emel
emel.com
Muslim lifestyle magazine in the UK

SISTERS Magazine
sisters-magazine.com
A magazine for Muslim women around the world.

AlJumuah
aljumuah.comA Muslim family lifestyle magazine based in Wisconsin.

Little Explorers Magazine
littleexplorersmagazine.co.uk/storeA magazine for kids!

Seeking forgiveness from Allah, repentance

أسْتَغْفِرُ اللَّهَ وَ أتُوبُ إلَيْهِ
Astaghfirullaha wa atūūbu ilai(hi) (I seek the Forgiveness of Allah and repent to Him.)
[to be reicted 100 times during the day] [Sahih al Bukhari, Muslim 4:2075]

http://www.islamawareness.net/Repentance/repentance.html

Duas for Asking for Forgiveness from God
http://www.soundvision.com/info/islam/forgivenessdua.asp

More duas for repentance
http://www.islamawareness.net/Dua/forgiveness.html

Ramadan Look-ups

Quick Rewarding Dhikrs - http://fastaqim.blogspot.com/2007/05/dhikr.html

lovemuslim twitter tweets - https://twitter.com/#!/lovemuslim

Don't Be Sad pdf - http://d1.islamhouse.com/data/en/ih_books/single/en_Do_not_be_Sad.pdf

Kindness to others

Islamic teachings for better husband-wife relationship:
http://www.islamicresearch.org/Pages/tips_for_a_better_husband_and_wi.htm

The Noble Qur'an 42:43

And verily, whosoever shows patience and forgives that would truly be from the things recommended by Allah. 

Hadith - Muslim & Bukhari
"Allah is not kind to him who is not kind to people."



Hadith - Tirmidhi
"The most perfect of the believers is the best of you in character, and the best of you are those among you who are best to their wives."

“Beware of suspicion. Suspicion is the most untrue speech. Do not spy and do not eavesdrop. Do not compete with each other and do not envy each other and do not hate each other and do not shun each other. Be slaves of Allah, brothers.”

{Book 47, Number 47.4.15 : Malik’s Muttawa}

Narrated Umar ibn al-Khattab:

The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: the same occasion: Help the oppressed (sorrowful) and guide those who have lost their way.

{Book 41, Number 4799: Sunan Abu-Dawud}

Narrated Abu Huraira:

Allah’s Apostle said, “Whoever has oppressed another person concerning his reputation or anything else, he should beg him to forgive him before the Day of Resurrection when there will be no money (to compensate for wrong deeds), but if he has good deeds, those good deeds will be taken from him according to his oppression which he has done, and if he has no good deeds, the sins of the oppressed person will be loaded on him.”

{Volume 3, Book 43, Number 629: Sahih Bukhari}

Narrated ‘Abdullah bin Umar:

Allah’s Apostle said, “A Muslim is a brother of another Muslim, so he should not oppress him, nor should he hand him over to an oppressor. Whoever fulfilled the needs of his brother, Allah will fulfill his needs; whoever brought his (Muslim) brother out of a discomfort, Allah will bring him out of the discomforts of the Day of Resurrection, and whoever screened a Muslim, Allah will screen him on the Day of Resurrection .”

{Book 43, Volume 3, Number 622: Sahih Buhari}

The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said:

“Help your brother, whether he is an oppressor or he is oppressed.” The Prophet was asked: “It is right to help him if he is oppressed, but how should we help him if he is an oppressor?” He replied: “By preventing him from oppressing others.”

{Sahih Bukhari, Volume 3, Hadith 624}

Don't Be Sad: p 265-275

Allah swt expects us to strive to do something, to promote the name of Islam and the Word of God on Earth. WE all will get their our own ways, with His help.

Without striving, patience and perseverance, there is no success. Putting resources into ourselves and others will help us obtain the best of both worlds Inshallah.

http://www.kalamullah.com/Books/Dont%20Be%20Sad.pdf